“From active inclusion to social investment”, EESC and Eurofound joint conference

The European Economic and Social Committee and Eurofound are jointly organizing a conference, titled “From active inclusion to social investment”, in Brussels on the 16th of June on the measures taken at European level to step up active inclusion and social investment. 

The aim of active inclusion is to bring those who can work and are furthest from the labour market into employment and to provide those who cannot work with enough resources to live in dignity and participate in society. In 2008, the European Commission proposed a comprehensive Active Inclusion Strategy based on adequate income support, inclusive labour markets and access to quality services. Since then, and in the wake of the financial crisis, Europe has experienced severe social set-backs.

Today, one in four Europeans lives in or is at risk of poverty and progress has been slow regarding the smarter, more sustainable and more inclusive growth envisaged in the Europe 2020 strategy. 

To support Member States in their efforts to emerge from the crisis within current budget constraints, the European Commission published its 2013 Social Investment Package (SIP). The SIP presented an assessment of how Member States have implemented the Commission's recommendations on active inclusion, reiterating the crucial need for active inclusion in the fight against poverty. 

Commissioner László Andor will deliver a keynote speech at the conference, which will focus on questions such as: Why is it important to aim for an integrated implementation of the three strands of active inclusion (adequate income support, inclusive labour markets and access to quality services)?; The Social Investment Package ensures the follow-up to the Active Inclusion Strategy. How to ensure that Member States develop approaches that effectively integrate its three strands?; What role can the Europe 2020 Strategy and the European Semester play in making active inclusion and social investment happen?; What more can the European institutions do to mainstream active inclusion and social investment in the Union's policies and how can relevant actors be better engaged in the process?; What role can the social partners and civil society organisations play in promoting and implementing the necessary measures?